Are the Leafs really that good?
- Thread starter Riddum
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Dustin
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- Sep 24, 2014
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Well obviously, they have Laine who is clearly superior to Matthews because he is 7 months younger.
Dustin
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As much as I love it and am very impressed with their recent play, the old Leaf insecurities come into play. So many times have I seen a Leafs team just not have enough in the tank that I expect it now.
Honestly I can barely believe that we have Matthews. lol.
DanM
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That is the best one!!! I still laugh when I hear them say it!
- Feb 24, 2017
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I’m not the one commenting on the quality of Washington or Chicago. I’m commenting on Leafs honks using Washington as a reference point when chances are they’re among those who used to laugh at the Caps as actually good.
How about Nylander though, his puck control is just so effortless, he can keep the puck away forever until he makes a great play without looking like he's breaking a sweat, and he does it consistently like few others I've seen.
The Maple Leafs are a young, highly skilled team with more depth than any other team in the NHL.
Now add in the first class brass/management and one of the best coaches in the game Babcock. This Toronto team is the real deal.
Now add in the first class brass/management and one of the best coaches in the game Babcock. This Toronto team is the real deal.
And people had the nerve to call us a bubble team before the season. I think we're an odds on favorite to finish first in the East. We're on another level than most teams.
It's actually just one massive anamoly. The Winnipeg Jets and the Buffalo Sabres are light years head of us in their rebuilds and we won't sniff the playoffs for 5 years.
One day we might be as good as the Winnipeg Jets.
One day we might be as good as the Winnipeg Jets.
Dustin
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Agreed. Marner has his nights too. I haven't been this excited since the Gilmour trade.
TDK67
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- Apr 17, 2016
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"Stop telling us the Leafs are actually good!!"
- all the non-Leafs fans who didn't shut the f*** up when the Leafs were bad.
- all the non-Leafs fans who didn't shut the f*** up when the Leafs were bad.
Pinto
Kings of the North!
LondonKendrick
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- Jun 18, 2016
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We'll find out if the Leafs are consistent tomorrow, Detroit is a trap game, good teams get those two points.
A1LeafNation
Obsession beats talent everytime!!
- Oct 17, 2010
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A1LeafNation
Obsession beats talent everytime!!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,471
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Let's see how that trap team handles the deepest set of forwards in the NHL.
So you admit you're using assumption. The Caps were overwhelming favourits to win the cup last June.
Nalens Oga
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They have....issues but at the same time, they could win the conference. The first bonus is that the East is open because both the Caps and the Pens (who I thought were the only good teams in it last season) are both weaker. The Bolts are probably the only notably improved team.
Their three issues for me are:
-Really bad at limiting zone entries. I haven't checked the stats on this but it just looks like the neutral zone is wide open for the other team to walk through, they aren't trapping well and it's letting teams like Mtl counter or a team like Wsh use their speed. Their breakout from the defence hasn't been that great but when you have guys like Nylander/Matthews/Kadri, you can just get them to carry the puck in at times.
-Offensive black-holes. Komarov seems to have lost his offensive touch, Martin is a waste of minutes since he doesn't even seem to be hitting or fighting much, Hyman might forecheck but so does Brown and Hyman doesn't make plays, and one of JVR/Bozak will have a good game but the other one will suck in that game. Their PP's numbers are good but it's because of the kids, the dmen really struggle on it.
-Babcock's team selection....this is his one weakness as a coach imo, he's too rigid in his lineups and with giving young players a chance unless they're other-worldly or out of necessity. There's guys not in the lineup that are better than some of what is in the lineup and he's also very slow to adjust lines.
Their three issues for me are:
-Really bad at limiting zone entries. I haven't checked the stats on this but it just looks like the neutral zone is wide open for the other team to walk through, they aren't trapping well and it's letting teams like Mtl counter or a team like Wsh use their speed. Their breakout from the defence hasn't been that great but when you have guys like Nylander/Matthews/Kadri, you can just get them to carry the puck in at times.
-Offensive black-holes. Komarov seems to have lost his offensive touch, Martin is a waste of minutes since he doesn't even seem to be hitting or fighting much, Hyman might forecheck but so does Brown and Hyman doesn't make plays, and one of JVR/Bozak will have a good game but the other one will suck in that game. Their PP's numbers are good but it's because of the kids, the dmen really struggle on it.
-Babcock's team selection....this is his one weakness as a coach imo, he's too rigid in his lineups and with giving young players a chance unless they're other-worldly or out of necessity. There's guys not in the lineup that are better than some of what is in the lineup and he's also very slow to adjust lines.
DanM
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I loved the argument how the "Fix" was in for Matthews to win the Calder because the NHL loves the Leafs and it's fixed. They did not win a major award for 25 years and had the longest drought of any team, but the NHL loves giving the Leafs awards?...
DanM
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RIGHT!! only morons who don't actually follow the history of NHL awards would make such statements lol
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